Available all year round and supports dancing events every April

Including Autism Dance Day

and International Dance Day

This online special will present a number of specialised projects and development which is aimed to change attitudes towards Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia and Social Anxiety when dancing. Also to encourage more people with hidden differences to dance regardless of background, abilities and difficulties.

Available all year round, this online feature was originally created to support Autism Dance Day and International Dance Day. This is also developed with the Project Director's website and social media.

Also

Identification information

For dancers with hidden differences

About Embrace Dancing Special

Embace Dancing is a special feature the project director was developed in April 2023 for supporting Autism Dance Day and International Dance Day. With the overall aim for everyone including with hidden differences to celebrate a positive form of expression and activity. Orginally it was presented online and Social media in late April and throughout May, however since the feedback this online special is now availaible all year round. The "Embrace Dancing" special appears on the this website and over on the Keith Mckenzie website along with Social Media.

In April 2023 a new mini project was launched to coincide the launch this online special Plus Value Awareness project to improve inclusiveness of hidden differences with dance activities and envionments titled "Inclusive to Dance". In October the project expanded with introducing a family of inclusivity pledges.

For supporting Autism Dance Day in 2023, the Project Director, Keith Mckenzie was featured on social media in a salsa dancing video for supporting Autism Dance Day with Professional and Dancing Teacher Jayne Emily Turpin. 

In January 2024 the Embrace Dancing feature expanded with the inclusivity dancing suggestion publications "Beyond Understanding" with the documents available for everyone to access and download the two specially made documents

For supporting the dancing events in April 2024, a specially themed project was created under the title "Open Mind" to encourage change of perceptions. In addition, two blog articles were made with one linked with the "Open Mind" theme. In the second blog, the Project Director shares his personal experiences and the challenges of ableism in dancing. A new addition for supporting this year's events is the family of downloadable inclusivity pledges which was developed in Noevember 2023.

Other information

The Embrace dancing special also provides online links to the community related video campaign featuring the project director by Birmingham City Council to showcase Birmingham's legacy since hosting the Commonwealth Games.

On the Project Director's website an the online feature on my dancing related developments including dance class assistant and a participant at dancing conventions. It also includles dancing related creative and design projects including marketing for a legendary dance studio in the Midlands.

Please note

Some of the information also applies to Neurodiversity, Invisible Disabilities and with Anxiety

An identical version of this online feature is available via the the project Director's website

Statement for Autism Dance Day
Dancing is a universal language which can bring the best out of others. Everyone living on the autistic spectrum should have the right to to express themselves through dancing without barriers and obstacles. As well as the positive benefits, dancing in inspiring and bring the best out of others. Everyone needs to remove negative barriers which enable more autistic people to dance and to denonstate the positive passions. 

Statement for International Dance Day
Dancing is an expressive artform which breaks across all types of cultures language and backgrounds. It brings spirit, passion, energy, emotion and much more.

So regardless of background, culture, abilities, disabilities or difficulties, everyone should have the right to dance without barriers and obstacles.